New Canaan, North Haven set for Class L football semifinals

By TOM EVANSHour Staff Writer

Published 3:15 am, Friday, December 6, 2013

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New Canaan, North Haven set for Class L football semifinals

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NEW CANAAN -- After turning in what head coach Lou Marinelli described as an "impressive" performance in the 46-0 victory over No. 6 Farmington on Tuesday in the CIAC Class L tournament quarterfinals -- five days after a gut-wrenching loss to Darien on Thanksgiving -- the New Canaan High School football team gets a big dose of smash-mouth football on Saturday at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.

The third-seeded Rams (12-1) will face No. 7 North Haven (10-2) in a 2 p.m. semifinal -- after the Indians disposed of second seed Platt 35-0 in the opening round on Tuesday -- in what will be a distinctive clash of wills.

"This is a tough group of Indians," Marinelli said. "You couldn't get more contrasting styles between what they do and what we do offensively. They grind it up and spit it out with the running game, while we throw it all over the place. We have two different philosophies on how to move the football. (North Haven) is about toughness and running right over you. We're having a heckuva time duplicating what they're doing in practice, and I'm sure they are having a heckuva time duplicating what we do."

The Indians, under head coach Anthony Sagnella, are one of the few programs left using the single-wing offense -- and they use it well.

"This is new ground for us," Sagnella said. "New Canaan is much more familiar with this week. Our kids are excited and honored to be on field with a program of the success of New Canaan."

Senior quarterback Michael Halloran has thrown for just 665 yards on the season (on 35-for-103 passing) -- that's two games worth of air yardage for New Canaan -- but Halloran is third on the team in rushing with 814 yards on 154 attempts, scoring 11 times.

Senior running back Ethan Suraci leads the ground assault with 1,131 yards and 6.9 yards per carry, with 22 touchdowns, quarterback Chris Pecora is just ahead at 817 and 8.6, sophomore running back Michael Montano collected 748 and 7 TD on 7.33, and junior running back Thomas Gallagher chipped in with 278, 4 TD and 7.13.

All told, these Indians have rolled up 4,014 yards on the ground, and picked it up at a 6.85 per-carry clip.

"There are always a couple of points that make a football team successful: Control the line of scrimmage -- (New Canaan) is formidable up front -- and we have to minimize mistakes," Sagnella said. "We have to be as sound as possible in the kicking game to maximize field position. (New Canaan) is very good. They are very methodical in what they do."

Sagnella embraced his team's old-school approach to offense, and the inevitable comparisons it draws to the current wide-open attacks.

"Our offenses are like Ali-Frazier," Sagnella said, likening his team to the slugging Smoking Joe, and the Rams to the floating butterfly and stinging bee. "They can move around and hit you from a lot of places. We can work the body. It's an interesting contrast in styles. (The single-wing) is unique now, but it's what has helped us get to where we are. The kids have embraced the philosophy and accepted the next challenge."

The next challenge will be slowing down a Ram offense that racked up 355 yards through the air against Farmington -- quarterback Nick Cascione was 21 for 32 for 329 of those yards, with two scores and a pick -- while nine ballcarriers totaled 229 yards on the ground, averaging 6.2 yards a pop.

"We're going to find out if our guys are going to like (North Haven's no-nonsense rushing approach)," Marinelli said. "(North Haven) is so well-coached. Anthony Sagnella looks at how we attack their single-wing, and he sits back like a surgeon and makes adjustments. They have the recipe to beat us. They use the clock, grind it out, and keep the ball away from our offense."

The Indians play on real grass at home, but Sagnella doesn't think the playing surface will have any impact on the outcome.

"We play a number of games on field turf, and we don't mind day games," Sagnella said. "It should be played on a Saturday afternoon. This feels right. We'll see how it feels at 4 o'clock. Lou will probably say 'we'll see how it feels at 5 o'clock.'"

That last statement referred to the desired speed of the game under ideal circumstances. Sagnella would like four or five eight- to 10-minute drives that finish in the end zone, leaving the Rams' potent offense on the bench.

Marinelli knows his squad's depth could spell the difference.

"(North Haven) has a lot of kids going both ways, and if we get up on them, it will be tough for them to come back," Marinelli said. "They have more kids going both ways, so the longer the game goes, we may have an advantage."

Sagnella could not hide his excitement about a group that is greater than the sum of its parts.

"We are where we hoped to be with 16 seniors," Sagnella said. "We have high expectations, and we work at them. We have no superstars. We're being carried by all 16 of them. There are names that some people will recognize, but the team is balanced with leadership. We do not play well unless everyone plays well. As individuals, these kids are somewhat ordinary as players. Collectively, they are something special. We can't say one guy carries us. It's a pleasure to be associated with them. It's fun to be in this position."